From: "Theodoros Sp. Zarros" Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 20 Dec 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Athens News Agency Bulletin, Dec. 20, 1993 Athens, 20/12/1993 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will raise the Skopje issue and the Bosnian crisis at the European Union General Affairs Council two-day meeting, opening in Brussels today. The appointment of a European observer to the Cyprus problem is also on the agenda of the EU Foreign Ministers meeting. Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Pangalos, who left for Brussels yesterday, are expected to emphasise to their European partners the importance attributed by Greece to concrete goodwill gestures by Skopje. Such goodwill measures should refer to respect of the borders, Skopje's constitution reflecting irredentism, use of Ancient Greek symbols and hostile propaganda against Greece. The Ministers are also expected to ask their European partners to exert influence to that effect with Skopje, making it clear to them that in the case there are no such gestures, Greece would take mainly financial measures against FYROM. Athens, 20/12/1993 (ANA): The European Commission will pay a two-day visit to Greece on January 4, alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos said Saturday. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou will meet with Commission President Jacques Delors, while E.C. commissioners and Greek ministers will hold a round of separate meetings, within the framework of final talks between the Commission and Athens prior to Greece's assumption of E.U. rotating presidency on January 1. Athens, 20/12/1993 (ANA): Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou yesterday praised US policy on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), in contrast to the "offending" position taken by Europe. Mr. Papandreou said the United States was "still waiting for the green light" from Athens to strengthen its ties with FYROM. Reiterating Greece's adamant position in opposing any recognition of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until the name dispute was settled, he described the action by London, Bonn, Paris, Rome, Copenhagen and The Hague as "particularly offending". Mr. Papandreou said he feared simultaneous decision by six EU countries to establish diplomatic relations with Skopje might influence the US stance, which until now had been "favourable towards Greece". Meanwhile in Washington, a State Department spokesman reiterated, Saturday, the US government position not to recognise Skopje, but did not exclude the possibility of future recognition. The spokesman said the US government supported Greece's demands to eliminate from the Skopje constitution articles reflecting irredentism. The spokesman further noted the US government was now reviewing its current policy on Skopje, adding that Washington hoped Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would be able to solve their differences on the name issue. He also said the US attached great importance to stability in the region and such "stability has an increasing significance for the United States". Athens, 20/12/1993 (ANA): The government "has taken note" of a statement by President Kiro Gligorov last week that Skopje recognised Greece's borders but, at the same time, it drew attention to a basic contradiction. Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos Saturday told the press contradiction lay in Skopje's insistence on using a national flag which "blatantly" reflected territorial designs. "The Skopjan flag bears the Vergina Star, an ancient Greek symbol found on the golden casket of Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. What possible meaning could such a flag have, other than some territorial expansion into Greek Macedonia?" Mr. Pangalos asked. "There is also the preamble to their Constitution", Mr. Pangalos added, pointing out that "(removing) these could be a concrete example of goodwill. "That could not be considered as a sacrifice on Gligorov's part", he stressed. "Sacrifices are made by and may be demanded from someone who has a right to something. No state or nation has a right to make territorial claims which are not legitimate, or have a bearing on a neighbouring country, especially as (Gligorov) has stated existing borders are permanent", Mr. Pangalos said. "There is, therefore, an element of contradiction", he went on, "and we will wait and see whether or not they will adopt any goodwill measures". "If they do, then the climate (between Greece and Skopje) will clearly improve", Mr. Pangalos concluded.